Guide Rankings Economy Updated June 22, 2026

Average Childcare Cost by State

Bright daycare classroom with toys and child activity areas

Average Childcare Cost by State

Ranking - Economy

Infant care costs vary from $6,868 in Mississippi to $26,709 in Massachusetts. In 38 states, infant care costs more than in-state public college tuition.

Quick Answer

Average Childcare Cost by State

  1. 1

    Massachusetts has the highest average childcare cost for infant care at $26,709 a year, ahead of Minnesota at $22,569.

  2. 2

    New Mexico has the highest childcare cost burden at 21.0% of median family income. Hawaii is next at 20.0%.

  3. 3

    Infant care costs more than in-state public college tuition in 38 states. California is $13,159 above tuition, while Michigan is $4,949 below.

Map

Average Childcare Cost by State Map

Infant care
No data
Massachusetts leads at $26,709, while Mississippi is lowest at $6,868. New Mexico stands out on the burden side, with infant care equal to 21.0% of median family income.
Average Childcare Cost by State Map
Rank State Infant care
1 Massachusetts 26,709
2 Minnesota 22,569
3 California 21,945
4 Colorado 21,840
5 Hawaii 21,167
6 Alaska 20,943
7 Washington 20,677
8 Connecticut 20,254
9 Oregon 19,064
10 Maryland 18,946
11 Vermont 18,836
12 New Jersey 18,155
13 New Hampshire 17,364
14 New York 17,361
15 Ohio 17,071
16 Wisconsin 16,956
17 Rhode Island 16,758
18 Delaware 16,220
19 Illinois 16,107
20 Nevada 15,950
21 Arizona 15,625
22 Indiana 14,471
23 Virginia 14,277
24 New Mexico 14,244
25 Nebraska 14,106
26 Pennsylvania 13,354
27 Maine 13,310
28 Missouri 13,173
29 Utah 13,094
30 Florida 13,021
31 Montana 12,778
32 Oklahoma 12,468
33 North Dakota 12,373
34 Tennessee 12,249
35 Georgia 11,863
36 North Carolina 11,720
37 South Carolina 11,512
38 Texas 10,706
39 Michigan 10,023
40 West Virginia 9,692
41 Idaho 9,630
42 Iowa 9,605
43 Wyoming 9,327
44 Kansas 9,105
45 Arkansas 8,873
46 Louisiana 8,873
47 Kentucky 8,756
48 South Dakota 8,680
49 Alabama 7,871
50 Mississippi 6,868

Massachusetts leads at $26,709, while Mississippi is lowest at $6,868. New Mexico stands out on the burden side, with infant care equal to 21.0% of median family income.

Average Childcare Cost by State Table

Download as PDF

Print-ready table — Average Childcare Cost by State

Most and Least Expensive States for Infant Care

Highest

26709
Massachusetts flag
Massachusetts #1

Lowest

6868
Mississippi flag
Mississippi #50

Top 10 Highest — Infant Care Cost

#1 Massachusetts flag Massachusetts
26709
#2 Minnesota flag Minnesota
22569
#3 California flag California
21945
#4 Colorado flag Colorado
21840
#5 Hawaii flag Hawaii
21167
#6 Alaska flag Alaska
20943
#7 Washington flag Washington
20677
#8 Connecticut flag Connecticut
20254
#9 Oregon flag Oregon
19064
#10 Maryland flag Maryland
18946

Top 10 Lowest — Infant Care Cost

#50 Mississippi flag Mississippi
6868
#49 Alabama flag Alabama
7871
#48 South Dakota flag South Dakota
8680
#47 Kentucky flag Kentucky
8756
#46 Louisiana flag Louisiana
8873
#45 Arkansas flag Arkansas
8873
#44 Kansas flag Kansas
9105
#43 Wyoming flag Wyoming
9327
#42 Iowa flag Iowa
9605
#41 Idaho flag Idaho
9630

Average Childcare Cost by State Top and Bottom

Daycare classroom with toddlers and play equipment
Childcare costs vary enormously by region, with Massachusetts, Minnesota, and California clustered at the top and much of the Deep South near the bottom. The spread between the most and least expensive states is nearly $20,000 a year.

Massachusetts ranks first at $26,709, followed by Minnesota at $22,569 and California at $21,945. Colorado at $21,840 and Hawaii at $21,167 complete the top five.

Mississippi ranks last at $6,868, with Alabama at $7,871 and South Dakota at $8,680 just above it. Arkansas and Louisiana tie at $8,873.

States With the Highest Childcare Cost Burden

Parent arriving at daycare with a child
Cost burden depends not just on sticker price but on what families earn locally. New Mexico and Hawaii stand out because childcare absorbs an especially large share of median family income there.

New Mexico has the highest income burden at 21.0% of median family income. Hawaii is next at 20.0%, and Alaska follows at 19.4%.

Minnesota reaches 18.8%, while California is at 18.4% and Nevada is at 18.3%. South Dakota is the lowest by this measure at 9.4%.

States Where Childcare Costs More Than College

College campus walkway with students outdoors
In most states, infant care now costs more than in-state public college tuition. That comparison captures just how large the financial burden of early childcare has become for many families.

Infant care costs more than in-state public college tuition in 38 states. California has the largest gap at $13,159, while Washington is $12,533 above tuition.

Michigan is the clearest case in the other direction. Its $10,023 infant care cost is $4,949 below its $14,972 in-state tuition, and Alabama is $3,401 below.

Quick Answers

Which state has the highest average childcare cost?
Massachusetts ranks first at $26,709 a year. Minnesota is next at $22,569.
Which state has the lowest average childcare cost?
Mississippi is lowest at $6,868. Alabama follows at $7,871.
What is the average childcare cost in California?
California averages $21,945 a year for infant care and $13,020 for child care for a 4-year-old. Its infant care cost equals 18.4% of median family income.
What is the average childcare cost in Texas?
Texas averages $10,706 a year for infant care and $9,664 for child care for a 4-year-old. That equals 11.6% of median family income.
Which state has the highest childcare cost as a share of income?
New Mexico is highest at 21.0% of median family income. Hawaii is next at 20.0%.
Which states have childcare costs higher than college tuition?
Thirty-eight states have infant care costs above in-state public college tuition. California is $13,159 above tuition, and Washington is $12,533 above.

Methodology

Figures use the supplied state table of average annual infant care, child care for a 4-year-old, in-state public college tuition, and median family income for all 50 states. The cost burden percentage is infant care annual cost divided by median family income.

Sources

Information is cross-referenced with official state archives.
Found an error? Report it here.

Build A Comparison

Compare Childcare Costs Between States

Choose two states and compare infant care cost, preschool cost, tuition, and family-income burden.

You Might Also Like